Boy, 13, is mauled so badly by neighbor's escaped pit bull that his throat and voice box were left exposed and his face hanging off as he delivered cupcakes to a friend

Noiah, 13, was left with serious injuries after being attacked by his neighbor's dog in Rolla, Missouri

A 13-year-old teenager was savaged by a neighbor's dog who pounced on him twice, tearing his face and neck open as he delivered cupcakes to his friend after his mother's gender reveal party in March.

The violent attack happened as Noah was outside his neighbor's house in Rolla, Missouri, when - having delivered the cupcakes - the pit bull broke loose from its chain and pounced on him in the front yard, and in front on Noah's 12-year-old sister.

Noah's pregnant mother Julia Poland (33), stepdad Beau Logan (43), and the dog's owner were able to pull the dog away from Noah, but within seconds it managed to break loose again and launched a second savage attack. 

Noah was carried inside the house, and paramedics soon arrived to airlift Noah to a children's hospital in Saint Louis - 90 minutes away.

 Tara Stone (34), who was hosting the gender reveal party, drove her sister Julia to the hospital where they saw Noah - his head wrapped in a bandage and blood covering the floor - before he was taken in for emergency surgery. 

Scared about what was happening, Noah asked 'Am I going to die?' but was comforted by Tara and his mum who assured him that everything would be ok. 

Doctors revealed that Noah's throat, arteries, and voice box were exposed during the attack and tissue, skin, and muscle were pulled from his face. The dog also ripped out Noah's spit gland and fractured his jaw.

'My sister was at my house for a small gender reveal party. We grilled, enjoyed some cupcakes, and celebrated my sister and her future baby boy joining our family,' Tara said. 'When Julia got home, she was unloading the car with my nephew Noah who wanted to give the neighbor's daughter a cupcake.

Pictured: Noah, 13, lies on a hospital bed while being intubated after the life-threatening dog attack left severely injured. Noah's throat, arteries, and voice box were exposed during the attack and tissue, skin, and muscle were pulled from his face

Left: Noah pictured with his mother Julia and sister Haley . Right: Noah with his aunt Tara Stone . Tara was hosting a gender reveal party for her sister Julia when the neighbor's pit bull broke free and attacked Noah

'He came back to grab a few more for her parents but when he returned to the neighbor's house, their dog broke loose from his chain outside and attacked Noah.

'The neighbor, my sister Julia and Noah's stepdad all ran and attempted to pull the dog off. They did but the dog got loose a second time.

'After they removed the dog a second time, Noah was carried inside the house where my sister and a neighbor administered first aid until the EMT arrived to take him to the ER before Noah was later airlifted to hospital.

'No one knew the full extent of Noah's injuries. We just knew there was a lot of blood and his face was mauled to the point of being unrecognisable. We didn't know if he was going to live or die. My sister described his face to me as a 'hamburger.'

Since the attack, Noah has undergone four surgeries to clean and stabilise the area, to re-map the nerves and arteries, and to begin reconstructing his face using a skin graft and muscle tissue from his thigh, and nerves from his leg.

The reconstruction isn't yet complete and doctors are uncertain whether Noah will ever regain feeling in the right side of his face or mouth. It will take Noah approximately six to eight months to recover from his initial treatment before he's ready to undergo the further necessary operations.

Pictured: Noah before the dog attack. According to Tara, Noah is kind and enjoyed helping out elderly neighbors - such as mowing their laws - before being attacked

Whilst he recovers, fluid must be drained from his face every two hours and his calorie intake must also be monitored. Noah's house must be kept above 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit  (23 degrees Celsius) to help maintain his blood flow and whilst he's able to walk, plenty of rest is needed to aid his healing.

'He spent two-and-a-half weeks in the children's ICU,' Tara said. 'The early surgeries focused on cleaning and stabilising the areas impacted by the attack, and mapping the nerves and arteries in his face.

'Reconstruction will require extensive additional surgeries. Noah lost so much muscle from the right side of his face that doctors had to graft skin and tissue from his thigh, and nerves from his leg.

'It's certainly taken prayers, family, and community support to stay strong. We've always been a family that's been able to come together and find ways to support and love each other during the difficult times.  

As there was no vaccination record for the dog, Noah was also treated for rabies but after tests were carried out, mercifully it was discovered that the dog tested negative for the disease. 

Noah's 12-year-old sister Haley witnessed the attack, and has been staying the their aunt Tara while Noah recovers. 

'Haley (12), Noah's sister, witnessed the attack and has stayed with us whilst Noah undergoes his treatment. That's hard for a twelve-year-old and she and Noah are very close,' Tara said.

'I've personally had days where I've sat and cried. As a mum myself, I can't help but squeeze my own boys tighter and let them know how much I love them.

Since the attack, Noah has undergone four surgeries to clean and stabilise the area, to re-map the nerves and arteries, and to begin reconstructing his face using a skin graft and muscle tissue from his thigh, and nerves from his leg. Left: Noah in hospital. Right: before the attack

Due to Covid-19, Tara said that only her sister Julia and her partner had been able to visit Noah during his two-and-a-half weeks in Children's ICU.

After undergoing the initial four surgeries, Noah is now healing at home before he returns to hospital for further treatment later this year. 

Thankfully, the family have had the support of their local community which has been invaluable, but they've also found an outpouring of support online. 

Wanting to do everything she could to help her sister and nephew, Tara set up a GoFundMe campaign which has so far raised over $40,000 to aid Noah's recovery. 

'The way the community has responded with love, gratitude and encouragement has been a beautiful thing,' Tara said.

'It doesn't replace the heartache but it really has brought some level of comfort during this extremely difficult time.

'No family expects tragedy to strike until it happens to them but my sister has been one of the strongest people I know throughout this.

Noah photographed with his sister Haley who witnessed the attack in March this year

'For now, Noah is home and trying to find his new normal. He's doing virtual school until he can heal better and build up the confidence to return. It won't be this school year or maybe even the next but we take it day by day - celebrating the small wins.

'People cheering him on has been a game changer. Trauma will manifest differently in different people and his mum has been counselled on that and how to prepare.

'I didn't know what to expect from the GoFundMe. I just didn't want the family to stress about the finances of Noah's healing.

'It's exceeded my original goal and people have sent cards, gifts, offered up their homes to stay in near the hospital, and other dog attack survivors have reached out.

'Churches, the school, and community businesses have asked how they can help. We are strong in our faith and Noah has been put on many prayer lists.

'There's been a lot of debate on dog breeds in regards to Noah's story but I don't want to lose sight of what matters.

'Noah is a lovely boy. He helps out his elderly neighbours, and constantly hugs his family. He offers help around the house and always works hard.

'He's kind, sensitive, and loves people. I hope he's able to hold onto that. It's so needed in the world today.'